What is the oldest country in the world still in existence?

Question

What is the oldest country in the world still in existence?

Answer 1

Inhadited by our kind, that would be africa.

Answer 2

I WOULD GUESS IRAQ

Answer 3

This is a loaded question. The concept of a country with a well-demarcated geographical area is of a fairly recent origin.

Hence the question lacks relevance. Besides colonial demarcations of many countries has no racial, geographical or historical basis. Drawing straight lines on a map betrays a tendency to possess land as a piece of real estste to be purchased and used for commercial exploitation. This approach totally ignores the original inhabitants, their history, culture and institutions including their concept of their country.  That way no country with the tag 'AD' can qualify to be an old country.

However Iraq is the oldest 'country' and also 'Egypt'. Though  'China' proper as an ancient country with a distinct people, its spread in to non-Han areas to the western interior has spoiled its claim as a homogenous people. For instance all Chinese eat pork as a matter of routine, whereas in the west of China eating pork is a taboo as per their muslim faith. With such conflicting cultural dichotomy, a country cannot call itself a 'country'. Their western region is not a fringe or frontier area with miniscule population, thus sharpening the contrast. Mexico even as a very old country cannot claim continuity with their ancestors as they are no more cultural heirs to them.

Answer 4

Africa isn't a country. I would say Egypt.

Answer 5

China and India have oldest recorded history, going beyond 5,000 BC. The western civilization was in infancy at that time.

King Rama, the hero in Indian Epic Ramayana was born in 7323 B.C.

Answer 6

the u.s. has the oldest political system in the world so politically the u.s. is. China has the oldest culture in the world so take your pick.

Answer 7

China, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Greece, and, Ethiopia.

Answer 8

OLDEST COUNTRIES

San Marino (301 AD)

France (486 AD)

Bulgaria (632 AD)

Denmark (950 AD)

Portugal (1143 AD)

Andorra (1278 AD)

Switzerland (1291 AD)

Answer 9

In response to an earlier post, I´m not sure Africa is a country. According to the Guiness Book of records, Iceland is the oldest existing state which had a goverment as far back as 163 AD. Not including border changes I guess Egypt is probably the oldest country (at least still having the same name though politically, religiously and possibly geographically it has changed a lot and yes, it is in Africa though Africa is still not a country). There are other states such as Persia, Babylon, Greece, Italy (obviously formally known as Rome) to name a few who have seen dramatic changes, both politically, religiously and geographically (Persia now called Iran and Babylon now just a mere city in Iraq). I don´t think these really qualify however. China has a very long history but again it has changed so much, the country we call China is not the same as it was 1000's of years ago (due to reigns of kings moving things around and calling areas by a different name, etc). All in all, Iceland will probably be the winner, even to those Americans who profess they have the longest standing constitutional state, Iceland is probably what you will find as the answer.

According to About.com "According to tradition, San Marino is known as the world's oldest republic. The tiny republic was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marino (or Saint Marinus) on September 3, in the year 301 C.E." So now I am not sure. I will still pitch for Iceland in view of what the Guiness book of records says and it preceeds San Marino by 140 years.

Answer 10

SAN MARINO is the oldest country that is still in existence.

"San Marino claims to be the oldest constitutional republic in the world and that it was founded on 3 September 301 by Marinus of Rab, a Christian stonemason fleeing the religious persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian. San Marino's constitution, dating back to 1600, is the world's oldest written constitution still in effect. ..."